Winding mechanism for rolling screens



Oct. 20, 1931.

G M. SACERDOTE WINDING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING SCREENS filed Dec.

swumtoz Y bv' ER Q M mm, NEWv YORK, s ms wmxw.mwmm: s

. a; E WSH N JIEW Patented Oct. 20,, V

3 V 'A ijilieatidni filed beernher 5 This inventionrelatesitorollingscreens or shades and'mpre particnlarly refers to "anovel and improved arrangement fOi'JWlIldf ing andunwinding a'rollingscreen or shade, a

whereby cert'ain important 'adVantagesInay be realized, which similar devicesher'etefore cally'unifornr while thescreen is-ejxtended fromits-inoperative t0 itsfoperati've pO's'i Another Object (if thisiny'enti'ongis to pro- "vide, a novelfandin lproved arrangementofrolling-screen 01"shade',fW;hereby a positive Winding a c'ti0nwill beobtainable at an 1 tbrt'ionsand kinking ofthe material. v A

"still further'ohj ect is to provide; in aro'lliing screen orshadeganiextremely simple and" fine mesh Wire netting, produced fromlight F times, While at thezsame time the tension upiin theWinding-element isflr'nainta'inedg insnrmg cl'oseand smooth winding;preventmg; as a "consequence; the possibility of dis reliablearrangement, "whereby perfect alin'e mentdfthe Wmdinginernber is'assnredatall I times i'and ease 0f -c0ntr0l"andeffective 0pfi-Rolling'screens'are generally inade of very gauge metallic wireywhich is a'fairlyfiexv ihleand pliable fabricywhi ch' canbejwo'und;

' aregeneral upbnand unwotind from a roller with co'ln parative ea'se'f"This" fabric, howeyerfis not quite as flexible ascloth and the materialhais 'ertain springiness' Which makes" it rather cl iffieiiltito Wind itclosely upon the roller,

unless some. special arrangementi's' resorted tb; Arrangements rteinsure close "winding g y lacking in'deviees'pft'his charaizter,;and theresult is that'when a screen Wennd up, its Various cells are detac'hedfrdm each other, andthe "fabric isllikely to. become 1 "distortedand-irregular when tension is" ap- After a'eertain peribd ofiisey, afsereen thus subjected to "the resulting. strain loses itsnniformity,its siirface he'cQme-skinked atnuk 'n'ier'ous points,:and thegrain of the metal Essa-trimesters f 2, 925; seri l 72,769. m g rapidlycrystallizes, hece -hard.j i

ed upon rollers depending on aspring for the Windingaction; after thefashion 'offthe 0rdinary' ro'ller for window shades. .1 1-,

reller by p'ulling: at its free end t extend; the

or some other-v similar device,' is' employed to prevent return metidn01? the roller; or else the 'screen'itself may be-iocked against obeying the a-ction' of ithe spring; theitwo "edge-s the screenjrunningiffwithin;{side" rails act- 7 injcr a's'gniding rneans thereformr I I hen' the screen is released, br thespringis-etherwise permitted torewind-the roller,

the scree'nmay be restrained-tea certain ex tent, slowing up'the.indi11gaetitingtofl re vent its Winding t0b-=ld0selyuppn the relerg abut: this restraining "action cannot be exlted I beyond aeertainIimit;inasmlieh a's-a tension sueh a would be required 'toj" maintain thefabric-close to' 'the' snrfae o'f'the roller'wqnld generally besuflicient to altp'gether preterit 1 the. tenth;or'-thespririg;owing'tothe perf ctfl xi i y io irhe f bri -jlF th r'inoref'the exertion'j'bfj sneh' a restraining action, requirestheexercise of' judgn ent and W I LM h d disadvantage; and in orderjtdmaintain said j iis sing a-ibulky easing fqr the roller is a distinct} 5feasing or top rail: Within' areasonablef s1ze,

answer unsatisfactory co'nd-itiqn isiintro dnced;bythefusefbfarellerfbfi instiflieient diameter; Compelling the fabric" m be wound I Ia -deem: omradi-iis 'whithf *i's tod small ree:

60 1 Theltwo'patent applications above referred .to; relate,respectively, to an Qadj u stable construction- 0f rolling screen frameand roller its texture, and which further assists its tend ency tocrystallization. I

This method of construction is furthermore open to one more seriousobjection. It is obvious that if the screen is to be entirelyrewound'upon the roller, the spring actuating the roller must stillbeunder sufficient tension to cause winding action at the time when theoperation isabout to be completed; this is equivalent to sayingthatthetension of the spring increases more and more as't-he screen isextended, owing tothe construction of'the device, so that this tensionis likely'to become.

' excessive when the screen .is entirely-um wound. This means both thatan excessive f-force must be applied in order to operate the screen, andthat the screen. becomes sub-.

jected, to an excessive tension when in its extended position thistension may cause undue stretching of; .the fabric, which may, in thelong run, produce harmful consequences,xby

' injthe drawings, inwhich destroyingthe uniformity of its weaving.

, T he arrangement forming the object of the w ,Anembodiment'ofmyinvention is shown Q Fi ,1 is a fragmentary front view in elevationpartly sectionediofia self adjustable rolling screen Where thearrangement forming the objeettof the ,present invention is illustr eFig.2is a similar view showing also the bottom rail and the. operatingmechanism, illustrating the application of the device to anarrowerwindow fram'e. [The present invention is an improvement over thedevice'which hasbeenj described and claimed by me in two otherpatentapplications filed simultaneously herewith, having for titlefAdjustable' rolling screen Serial No. 72,761, patented October2'1,1930, Patent No. 1,7 7 9,262, and- Clamping mechanism for rollingscreens, Serial No. 72,762, patented March 25, 1930, Patent No.1,751,950, the improvement being more'particulary directed to thewinding mechanism" for'the rolling screen which has beenconsiderably'simplified. in the present case and which hasbeen made morereliable in its Operation.

' andto a-novel and improved clamping mechan m. f r mpi e-(the Sid edes. of th screen when inoperative position. These two features have beenembodied in the present invention, practically unchanged and have beenrepresented in the drawings in or der to be described for the sake ofclarity;

' but the invention, as stated, refers more particularly to thearrangement. for winding v and unwinding the screen.

'My device consists, essentially, ofa screen or shade 10,'made ofsuitable fabric, attached at one end, in this case the upper end, to aroller 11,'rotatably mounted within a casing or upper rail 12, andprovided at the other end with across member or bottom rail 13,

extending for the entire width of the screen,

by means of which the screen may be operated in one or the otherdirection. 7

r The bottom railhas the objectof uniformly distributing the forceapplied to extend the screen; means are also provided to insure correctalignment of the bottomrail at all times, to prevent uneven stretchingof the screen, causing saidbottom rail to occupy successive parallelpositions throughout its travelfrom onejend ofthe screen frame to theother.

' In the present case, these means are represented by, side belts 1 1,15, which are at taclied to and wound upon upper pulleys 16, 17 andwhich run over lower pulleys 18, 19 respectively, each belt beingattached to one end-of the bottom rail. The arrangement is such that themovement of the belts is interdependent becausethe up per pulleys arefixed .on the same shaft 20, onwhich the roller 11 is also rotatablymounted; therefore, the bottom ,rail can only move by simultaneousdisplacement of its ends, and of the belts connected thereto, by equalquantities, corresponding to equal angularmovements of the pulleys. f I

Proper alignmentsiof'the bottom rail and uniform movements of the screenthroughout its width, are in any event assured, owing to the fact thatthe arrangement causes the screen to become closely wound upon theroller, so that any movement of the screen is instantly transmitted, tothe roller and through the roller to the entire width of the screen;

.As stated, the roller isrotatably supported upon shaft 20, having itsends inserted within hollow studs 21, 21", one at each end, said studsbeing riveted. or otherwise secured on to side frame members or siderails 22, 23, which are, placed and secured against the inside surfaceof the window frame 24,, by

means of1screws or in some other suitable manner in a, verticalposition. The studs project inwardly and co-axially to each other in,ahoriz ontal directionand are formed with a hollow stein portion whichacts as a bearing for said shaft 20. Pulleys: 16, 17 are fixed uponshaft. 20 by means of set screws 24, so

that the said pulleys be set on the shaft at whatever distance it may berequired to fit V the screen frame within window frames of slightlydifi'erent widthss ,StocklwindoWs of he sameare, course, not exactlyalike :andthereanay be :a difference :of l Z to in iwidthbetweennnder-j'sized and oversized windows; studs2 l, 21 and'shaft 20,-armadeso/that when the" screen frame is-niounted ma window frame loflawidth smaller. than-nbrmalbyzsay, A1,

the endsof the shaft almost touch-the bottom. of the openings in thestuds; and 'when the. screen frame is mountedin an oversized :win-

dowifram e, the widthof which is, say 44; in

I excess of normal, the distance between-the twostuds isstill less-thanthe lengthiof the shaftjand sufficient bearing siirfacaisstillprovided.v bysaid studs "for said shaft; iPul .leys 16, l7,-,cantherefore beset in position on theTshaft by means of set f screws 24' soas'lto cause said shaft to remain centrally located betweensaidstuds 1 yThe' lower pulleys 18, 19

same plane-,;with;the upper pulleys"; however,

owingtogthe"fact -that'the upper,pulleys are ofa larger diameter than.theiower]-pu11 y s,- the center ofrotation ofthe upper pulleysisforwardly displaced :in relation to the 'ter of. the :lower pulleys; sothat the inner strand of each. belt to which the bottom rail isattached, is substantially inline Wanamrearl and'thecir'cumferenc'eofthe screen r oller: whenv such roller is at its maximum: diam eter,the screen'mow-n-gnpor down as close -=as possible. to the windowsashes; V Accord:

ingly, thebelts are guided fromthe upper pulleys to andintothe saidrails by suitable & to deflecting means, not-shown.

; In relation toxthe bottom rail the screen and the belts form alc'ontinuation;-" but said screens and belts are so arranged in relation.to-the'screen roller and totheupperpulleys length of window frames ofthe same stock. size an'dtherefore, pulleys 16, 17' maybe set 7 upon theshaft 20 fordiiferen't distances be however, to set the screenroller'centrally' of the frame at all times, and this maytbeiautomatically obtainedin'a:mannersimilar v Y to the one described in myother patent appli that when the sereen is unwound from the roller,-thebelts will be wound upon the "pul leys; -and vice'yersai *"As-the screenand belts are thus wound and unwound, the diameterof the roller and the.pulleys vary and' litake. advantage of this circumstance in creating I atension upon the screen =at "alllt'imestw hich,

although i suflicient for the purpose of keep 4 ing the screen :taut isnever excessive, Varyingfbetween O limits whi'ch are not far apart. g rs ,The arrangement illustrated, as stated, is

preferably made adjustable for slight varia tions which may occur in thewidth and tween the side rails; It isv also necessary,

aiideabiy mounted upon ,said stud: rivetssuch as; 28, riyetedato theside rails, :so' as to remain in the 'fcatioii'rentitled Adjustable.rOllingE screeiWi' Byreferringto thefdrawinjgs it is. seenxthatfcollarsl 25, 26 are? attached to the. roller at the same distance fromI each I thereof. The roller. is mounted centrally upon shaft "20 by"causing the .hub OfdiscBO-LandE alcollar 531", fixed on shaftQO to abutinversely against said collars 25, 26so 'th'atan axial moyernent-eof.the 'roller inrelation. totheI shaft .isi p re- I yented.--BetWeenI said collars .25, 26 and :1 whee'l- 16,17 respectivelyllnay beinterposed pressure springs 32,33, which are of the same a :size'iandwhich by I pressing against said pul-f 1; :leysi and wuarwm cause theshaft to autoinatically assume acentrall-position in "rela tionlto 1 itsbearingsiiwhen set 1 screws 24', are loosened. OIice the frame androller are mounted in position,;set*screws, 24 maybe once moremade-xoperatiyealtoit fix the r shaft and 1 the shaft will remain;permanently (set i in its proper place. l-lloweyeigkthediiferaencesbetween' widthsof windowsof the same i g a stock size-are so sniallthat the properposi- Q tion: of thesrollerand shaft maybe gauged":witl'ioutfthe-assistance of the spring s 'so that f springs 32, 83 maybe omitted if desired. i

on the otherihand,;if springs 32,33 are usedypulleys' 1-6 v may be--mounted. upon i I the-shaft -so as to beaXially'inovzibleonsaid I'shaftihbutconstrained; to rotate" therewith, p for instance, by meansof key connection'32", '33Q shown in dotted lines 'in'lFig, 2; and in 1"this' -case, the use of the set serews may-be;jomitted'ythe pulleysbeing held in their 'prop- 1 [er position by thepressure exertedbyfsprings 1n the senseof the width" of thescreen; By

downi i s transmitted to ths s'ereen orjfto the side; belts and the'lengthi' of the bottemfrail" at alltimes 'adjusts itself,automat'ical-lytothfe "clistancebetween thebelts; o

It will be' obseryed that thearrangement describedis veryfieiribleandeffectiVeflnas-Q I I nuch as it will operate equally'well fifth 7side :railsdo not-run in, absolutely pare11e 1 1 directions? flhisism-1; important advantage "jbe'cause, owing to-the" quantityproduction; j methods, se an theirinanufaoture, window :fmmes' are 1rarely of the samee xact' d'imen- 's'ions a nel' the'widthbriheightjorboth of'the same franie may Vary atdiffeiientlpoiiits;" 55

hsing'anadjustableframe teenage n I (ether-words,the feature'o'fa'djnstabilityf must] .w s v r a sze z hes mers Y ndow" framed-implythe ne essity of a at the same time preventing possible bulgextend firstto the screen frame, which must be capable of adapting itself, withinlimits, to these variations, and'then to the roller and screen, whichmust be. adjustable, possibly automatically, to the. dimensions thusacquiredby the screen frame. At the same I time, it is highlydesirable'that a neat outside appearance-of the device'be preserved.

Y r111 connection with the winding mechanism to which the presentinvention more particularly refers, I prefer to also use a mechanismforflclamping the side edges of-the screen when extended in itsoperativeiposition, in order to insure tight closing at the edges of thewindowtowhich the screen is applied,

'- plication'for:patent on-Fclamping mechanism for rolling screens,filed simultaneouslyherewith. ,Y 7 i j The drawings are mainly intendedforthe purpose of illustration, andnot ina limiting sense; since it isobvious that minor changes maybe made in the constructionof the device,

'withoutsubstantially departing from the inventive idea, Therefore, Ireserve myself the 1 .right to carry myinvention into practice in allthose waysand manners which may enter,

, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 4 1., In a. device of the class described, comprising two sideframemembers, a shaft r0- tatably mounted between said members, a

:roller rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a

, screen adaptedto be'wouud upon said roller, twolside pulleys carriedby said shaft, flexible elements attached'at one end to the free end ofsaid screen and at the other end to said pulleys, ,and a spring insertedwithin said roller connecting said roller to said shaft causing saidflexible member to be wound upon said pulleys as said screen is unwoundfrom said roller, means for adjust- .ing the position of said pulleysalong and forefixing the same upon said shaft so as to positionsaidshaft between said two side members, preventing axial displacement ofsaid shaft in relation thereto, and "means for preventing axialdisplacements of said roller in relation to said shaft,

Ina deviceof the class described, co1nprising two s devframe members, ashaft row 't-atablyl mounted betweensaidinembers, a a} R5rollerrotatably mounted upon said shaft, a

screen adapted to be wound upon said roller, two side pulleys fixed uponsaid shaft restraining the same against axial movements in relation tosaid side members, flexible elen'ients-att'ached.atone end to the freeend of said screen and at the other end to said pulleys and a springinserted within said roller connecting said. roller to said shaft,causing said flexible members to. be wound upon's'aid pulleys as saidscreen is unwound from said roller, and means interposed between saidpulleys and said roller for centering said rollerupon said shaft inrelation to said side pulleys. 3. In a devicev of the'class described,comprising two side frame members, a shaft rotatably mounted-between.said members, a roller rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a screenadapted to be wound upon said roller, two side pulleys fixed uponsaidfshaft restraining the same against axial movements 1n relation tosaid side members, flexible elements attached at one end to the free endof said screen and at theother endfto said pulleys and a spring-insertedwithin said roller connectlng said roller to saidshaft, causing saidflexible members'tobe wound upon said pulleys as said screen isunwoundfrom said r0ller,and means interposed between said pulleysand saidroller for automatically centering said roller upon said shaft inrelation to said side,pulleys.- 1 I 4. In a device of the classdescribed, compris ng two side frame members, 'a'shaft rotatably mountedbetween said. "members, "a roller rotatablymounted upon said shaft, ascreen adaptedto be'wound upon said roller, two side pulleys looselycarried by and longitudinally adjustable on 'saidshaft, flexible elemens attached atone end to the free end of said screen and at the other endto said pulleys. :and aspring inserted within said rollefconnecting saidroller to said'shaft, causing said flexible member to be wound upon saidpulleys as said screen is unwound from's aid roller, means for fixingthe pulleys upon'said shaft so as to position said shaft between saidtwoside members, and a spring

